As part of the strategy towards fulfilling the President’s call to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, the County Government of Kericho in partnership with the disciplined forces, Kericho Teachers Training College and the community, today embarked on a tree planting exercise in Kericho.

The exercise which targeted planting at least 1500 indigenous trees brought together a contingent of security personnel participating in this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations scheduled to take place next Friday at the historic Kericho Green Stadium.

According to the CECM in charge of Environment, Hon.Rosemary Rop, the partnership witnessed today, was a clear demonstration of the collective efforts and commitment by Kenyans to increase the national tree cover from the current 12.13% to 30% by 2032.

Kericho County targets to plant 5 million trees covering well over 100,000 hectares raising its current tree cover from the current 22% to 30%.

The disciplined forces were headed by Brigadier Chatani Gula of the Nanyuki-based 4 brigade, who said every Kenyan including the military and other security personnel, had the cardinal responsibility of reversing the negative effects of climate change by planting trees.

The CECM in charge of Lands, Housing and Physical Planning, Hon.Brian Langat, announced that his department will provide the land space for planting trees whenever is required.

The County Government also partnered with Ekaterra, KALRO, Mau Tea and Kipchimchim Group, in launching another tree-planting exercise along Brooke-Kericho highway.